Travel blog

The Romantic Road winds its way through 180 miles of picturesque German landscape. Skirting the Austrian border, it passes dozens of charming medieval towns, quaint villages, and fairytale castles. The most famous along this daisy chain of towns is Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Nestled alongside the Tauber River, the charming city in the Franconian heartland is considered by many to be the best-preserved medieval town in all of Europe. Compact and pedestrian friendly, it is best seen on foot as you stroll past timbered houses and squares where the history of the 30 Year’s War still echoes through the turrets. Here are our top 10 things to do in Rothenburg ob der Tauber:

The letters, books, and records scattered throughout Finca Vigia are a snapshot in time, a picture of Lookout Farm as it was during the years Ernest Hemingway made his home here from 1939-1960. This was where he penned seven of his most famous novels, including The Old Man and the Sea and A Moveable Feast, and where he would pass his evenings listening to Gershwin tunes while sipping scotch.

Just west of Edmonton, the Canadian National Parks of Banff, Jasper, and Yoho combine to form 300 miles of the Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site. While you’ve no doubt heard of the first two, Yoho may just be one of the best-kept natural secrets of North America. With rugged peaks and alpine meadows, dramatic waterfalls and turquoise colored cold-water lakes, the smallest park of the trio is virtually unknown, and as such, features draw-dropping landscapes with very few crowds to contend with.

From grand castles and sprawling country fields, to busting cities and turn-of-the-century pubs Ireland is a feast for the senses.

Imagine sheer cliffs plunging into churning seas and endless green vistas where there are more sheep than people. This is the picture-postcard landscape that first welcomed John and Rosella Valentine on a recent YMT Vacations journey.

Just returned, Rosella had this to share about the country, her experiences and the travel tips she picked up along the way:

On the first Sunday of Advent the candles begin to flicker in the twilight as chestnuts roast over barrels that hug the bustling street corners. This is Christkindlmarkt, a tradition that dates back to the Middle Ages throughout German-speaking countries and many parts of the former Holy Roman Empire. While the markets are open every day until Christmas Eve, they come alive in the evenings when neighbors gather together and children giggle with the joy of the season. There are sweet treats and carousels, angelic choirs and handmade ornaments -- all underneath strands of twinkling lights and a blanket of soft fallen show. Here are three of our favorite market towns and some hints on how to make this yuletide festival unforgettable:

With cobblestone streets and bustling crowds, exploring Rome by foot can be a bit tricky. Not only is this a major metropolitan area, but it also has a number of heavily trafficked roads crisscrossing the city. When possible, see Rome on foot, especially if you are in the tourist areas where many sites of interest are clustered together. When exploring other parts of urban Rome, consider these helpful travel tips:

With ancient ruins, museums chock full of fascinating antiquities, and tavernas overflowing with ouza and good friends, Greece is a country rich in culture and grandeur. If a journey here is in your near future, make sure to take home some of its notable gifts to share with friends and family. Here are our recommendations for traditional Greek handiworks and regional specialties that will make for ideal souvenirs:

Back when it all began, the Rose Parade was a way for privileged families with names like Wrigley, Gamble, and Busch to show off their new home in California to friends and family back East.

It was 1890 and the group had recently taken up residence in Pasadena’s Orange Grove in palatial homes along what became known as Millionaire's Row.

The name Waterford is synonymous with quality. Created by hand in the city of Waterford, Ireland more than 200 years ago, this well-crafted glassware appeared in the homes of the well-to-do families throughout Europe, and even gained the admiration of the British royal family.

Waterford Crystal pieces are valuable because they contain very intricate design elements, and the process to create them is both complex and labor intensive. The larger the piece, the more detail it includes, and the more expensive it is purchase. The cost of these works-of-art varies, with prices ranging from €35 for an ornate seahorse memento, up to €11,350 for a 12-arm crystal chandelier.

Poké is as synonymous with Hawaii as cheesesteak is with Philadelphia. You’ll find it everywhere from food trucks and gas stations, to grocery stores and surf shacks.

For years, locals have been enjoying poké out of plastic storage dishes while seated on the hoods of cars or standing in food parks overlooking the beach. But recently, poké has made its way ashore, finding a place on upscale restaurant menus across the mainland.

So just what is it? And, why should we by rushing to try a bite of this Hawaiian raw fish recipe that is suddenly getting its due?